Compressor for refrigerating apparatus



April 7', 1931. ca. F. WOELFEL 1,799,449

COMPRESSOR FOR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 1, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a 1? W012 Z/el April 7, 193 G. F. WOELFEL 1,799,449

COMPRESSOR FOR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS iled M 1, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original GIT; 1 1 2 1/91 April 7, 1931. ca. F. WOELFEL 7 1,799,449

COMPRESSOR FOR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 1, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 zz: Me 2 16;

' Patented Apr, 7, 1931 UNITED s'r PATENT TFFWE G R E E E L o E OBI A: ssswuea To T -QQMMEa CLE R- I I\TG conronn'rronor JAC SON ILLE, rnonrna, A cosrona'rlon or FLORIDA I oomrnusson'ron n-EFRIGEB-ATIN APPARATUS Application filed March 1, 1828, Seria1No.-258,279. Renewed July 8, 1930.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to, the refrigerating systems usually employed for home or store refrigeration, wherein a compact c'ompressorand condenser structure is employed, and wherein the compressoris usually operated directly from a motor.

In devices of this character, the operation of the compressor is fairly rapid andilnbrication thereof is considerable of a problem. The lubricant employed will often vaporize and pass from'the compressor to the refrigerating system Where it is condensed by the refrigerant and collects in the refrigerant chamber often to suchan extent thatit will prevent the refrigerant from performing its function. Such an action in addition to interfering with proper refrigeration, rapidly Jremoves the lubricant necessary to the proper operation of the compressor, with the-result that the compressor sticks ,or is rendered-inoperative by burned hearings or thelzike. 'Accordingly,-an important object of the invention is the provision of-a structure such that oil which is vaporized and withdraW-n' {from the" compressor in this fashion may be conveniently returned :xthereto, so {that breakdowns from this cause are prevented.

A further object of the invention is' eto provide .a structure of this character permitting rtheuseofa greater quantity of lubricant than .is necessary-to the proper lubrioationof the compressor and providing means for control- 'lingthe amount actually present in the comapressor to maintain the same at a proper A further object :of the invention is to provide .a novel compressor construction en- 'abling the production ;of' a system of this character. q i

or r A furtherand more specific object of the invention-istoprovide.a novel and improved valve structure forsuch compressors enabling the vaporized lubricant tovbe Withdrawn and conducted to the refrigerant-chambemso that it'may be =c ondensed;and prepared for reuse.

?A still v:t'urther object of theinvention is to provide a novel and .improvedimeans for mainta'iningxra' valve controlling .the compressor in proper engagement with its seat during all times when the compressor IS in opera-tion, and which is of, such character that whenoper ationof the compressor is checked,

pressure upon the valve is relieved, so that r;

thestartingload imposedby the compressor is materially reduce i A further object of the invention is the provision in a construction of this character of a Valve sea-ting element, maintaining the val-ire inengagement with its seat, of such character that adjustment to compensate for Wear is unnecessary.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a structure such that the valve 1 operating mechanism may be entirely enclosed :within the compressor, thus eliminat- -ingtl1e necessity for stufling boxes and other equipment which'would otherwise be necessary.

v-ide iawnovel and improved air cooled conden-sing apparatus which may be constructed.

in capacities ru'nningas high as several tons,

power for its operationmay vbe provided g 70 A further object of-the invention is to pro from some moving part ofthe vehicle, and I Vxvhere'in the structure is suchthat the starting load of-the vehicle is not in-creased by the addition of :the refrigerating apparatus.

These and otherpobj'ects I attain-by the constructionshown in the accompanying drawings, wherein forthe purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of Figure 2 is -;an enlarged sectional view throughthe compressor; v

,Figure 3 is a section onthe line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Eigu-re-tis a'section onrthe line 41- 1; of

Figure 2; I I

Figure 5 is adetail sectional view through th oillevel.control. V q 1 I Beferri-ngnoW more particularly to the drawings, the numeral: 10 generally .desiguates a base having mounted thereon a compressor 11, a condenser 12 and a motor 13. The motor shaft 14- operates both the movable elements of the compressor and a cooling fan 15 for directing cooling air upon both the condenser and the compressor. To this end, the condenser 12 is arranged upon the base between the compressor and motor and the fan secured to the motor shaft 14; between the motor and the condenser, so that air passes through the condenser, which is at present disclosed as of the honeycomb type, for engagement against the compressor.

The compressor includes a cylinder'16, a crank case 17 and a suction chamber 18. The walls 19 separating the cylinder and suction chamber is formed with. a flat face 20 at the suction chamber against which operates a slide valve 21 having a port 22 extending therethrough and a second port 23, one end of which is in continuous communication with the interior of the suction chamber. The interior of this suction chamber is in continuous communication with the crank case 17. The crank shaft 24, which is direct- 1y connected with the motor shaft and forms a continuation thereof, mounts a connecting and away from the valve.

rod 25 for the piston 26 of the cylinders 16,

and further mounts a shank or rod of the slide valve 21, as indicated at 27, and is integrally formed with the valve.

The outer wall of the suction chamber 18 is formed by a removable plate 28 having an opening 29 formed therein. Extending inwardly from opposite sides of the opening are guides 30 between the inner ends of which the valve 21 operates. The upper and lower faces of these guides outwardly of the plates are connected by horizontal guides 31 combining with the guides 30 to provide a rectangular guide opening within which a metallic block 32 is mounted to slide toward This block is chambered at 33 and has a port 34 at its inner face with which the outer end of the port 22 of the valve 21 aligns at the same time that the inner end of this port aligns with a port 34-1 extending through the wall 19 and opening into the cylinder 16. The

outer end of the chamber 33 communicates with the interior of a bellows-like metal structure '35 which is sealedto the block 32 at its inner end and at its outer end is sealed to a plate 36 closing the opening 29.

This plate has connected thereto a discharge line 37 communicating with the in- 1 take of the condenser 12. The numeral 38 generally designates a refrigerant chamber, with the upper end of which are connected an intake conduit 39 which communicates with the suction chamber of the compressor and a conduit 40 communicating with the discharge of the condenser. The lower end of the'refrigerant chamber at the low side thereof has connected thereto a conduit 41,

the lower end of which communicates with a chamber 4.2 having arranged therein a float valve 413 controlling communication between the conduit and the chamber. The chamber 42 connnunicates with the crank case 17 and the float valve 1 3 closes communication with the conduit at the time when the oil level within the crank case is correct.

In the use of a system of this character, it will be understood that the, refrigerant employed and indicated at 44 should be of less specific gravity than the oil, indicated at 45, so that this. oil, when condensed and delivered to the refrigerant chamber 38, will settle therein. This oil may then pass directly through the conduit l1 to return to the base in such quantities as it is needed. It will be obvious that any oil evaporated in the course of operation of the machine will become intermingled with the gas drawn into the suction chamber and in common with this gas, will pass through the port 23 into the cylinder 16 when this port is aligned with the port 3-1. lVhen the port 2 of the valve aligns with the port 34 and the piston 26 is rising, this gas will be compressed and passed through the ports 22 and 34 to the chamber 33 and from thence through the bellows-like structure 35 and conduit 37 to the condenser. The pres sure generated within the bellows-like structure will cause the same to expand, forcing the block 32 against the valve 21 and the valve 21 against its seat, so that a perfect seal is provided. 'lVhen, however, operation of the machine is checked for any reason and thc pressures equalized, this block will be withdrawn so that the valve 13 is relieved in its frictional engagement with its seat and starting of the compressor may be much more readily accomplished. This enables eliicient use of a less expensive motor than would otherwise be necessary, while at the same time, insuring a proper seal'at all times during operation.

Such a system as above described eliminates the necessity for the use of oil traps and receivers and for constant attendance of a compressor to insure proper lubrication thereof. In this connection, it is pointed out that excess oil may be present in the refrigerant chamber in any quantity which will not interfere with proper functioning of the refrigerant and that this excess 'oil will be delivered to the base of the compressor as it becomes necessary.

While I have above referred to the use of a motor and have illustrated the use of an electrical motor, it will, of course, be understood that the term motor as employed is intendedto cover the use of other power ap-- paratus thanthe specific form illustrated. For example, the apparatusmight receive its power from a moving part ofavehicle upon which it is mounted, as hereinbefore'set forth. I Where this is the case," the loadimposed upon the vehicle in starting is *not noticeably increased as the resistance of the apparatus to operation does not take place until pressure has been built up in the system suflicient to cause a complete seating of the valve. Attention is also directed to the fact that this valve, due to the seating mechanism employed therewith, is wear-compensating and any adjustment or repairs thereto is eliminated for a very considerable period, thereby admirably adapting the same for use in the situations just described.

Since the construction employed is obviously capable of a certain range of change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of the invention, I do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1; In a refrigerating system, a compressor including, in combination, a compressor cylinder, a piston reciprocating therein, acrank shaft for the piston, a motor operating the crank shaft, a valve controlling the intake and exhaust of gases from the cylinders,

means conducting the exhaust of the cylinder from the compressor including a part operating under the pressure of the exhaust to apply pressure to the valve to maintain'the same in engagement with its seat.

2. In a refrigerating system, a compressor including, in combination, a compressor cylinder, a piston reciprocating therein, an 1ntake chamber having a'port connecting the intake chamber and cylinder, an exhaust conduit, a single slide valve alternately placing said port in communication with the exhaust conduit and the intake chamber, and means in the exhaust conduit expanding under pressure of the exhaust to apply pressure maintaining the slide valve against its seat.

3. In a refrigerating system, a compressor including, in combination, a compressor cylinder, a piston reciprocating therein, an intake chamber having a portconnecting the intake chamber and cylinder, an exhaust conduit, a single slide valve alternately placing said port in communication with the exhaust conduit and the intake chamber, the exhaust conduit including an expansible section responding to pressure of the exhaust and when responsive thereto'applying pressure to maintain the valve in engagement with its seat. 7

4:. In a refrigerating system, a compressor including, in combination, a compressor cy1- at one end and at its opposite end operatively engaging said valve.

5. In a refrigerating system, a compressor including, in combination, a compressor cylinder, a piston reciprocating therein, an intake chamber having a port through one wall of the intake chamber connecting the intake chamber and cylinder, a single slide valve coacting with saidport and operating against said wall, the opposite wall of the intake chamber being removable, an exhaust con-' duit extending therethrough, said exhaust ber within the intake chamber including a flexible section resiliently maintaining the slide valve in engagement with its seat, said section expanding under pressure of the exhaust toincreaseits application of pressure to the slide valve.

'7. In a refrigerating system, a compressor chamber being removable, an exhaust conduit extending therethrough, sa1d exhaust chami including, in combination, a compressor cyl- 1 inder, a piston reciprocating therein, an intake chamber having a port through one wall of the intake chamber connecting the intake chamber and cylinder, a single slide valve coacting with said port and operating against said wall, the opposite wall of the intakechamber being removable, an exhaust conduit extending therethrough, sa1d exhaust chamber within the intake chamber including a flexible section resiliently maintaining f the slide valve in engagement with its seat, said section being of bellows-like'structure and expanding under the influence of the exhaust to increase the pressure applied to the slide valve. \7 l I In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

GEORGE F. WOELFEL. 

